Max Verstappen has chosen a new number for a new fight. The three-time champion will switch his permanent Formula 1 driver number to 3 for the 2026 season, moving on from his longtime 33 and from the champion’s number 1, which he has carried since 2022. The decision, confirmed in reports from RacingNews365, MotorsportWeek (dated December 18, 2025), and PlanetF1, resets one of F1’s most recognizable brands ahead of a fresh campaign.

Verstappen’s switch might look like a small design change, but in modern F1 the number on the nose tells a story. It signals status, shapes identity, and lives on in merch, TV graphics, and fan memory. With Lando Norris crowned the 2025 world champion and expected to take #1 next season, Verstappen is planting a new flag: a simple, single-digit 3.

Why Verstappen picked 3: a simple symbol with a sharp edge

Verstappen explained the move in a Viaplay interview, as reported by RacingNews365: “It won’t be number ’33’… My favourite number has always been ‘3’, apart from number ‘1’. We can now switch. It will be number ‘3’.” He also added a neat bit of reasoning about leaving 33 behind: “’33’ was always fine, but I prefer a single 3 to two 3s. I’ve always said it represented double happiness, but of course, I’ve already had my luck in F1.”

The message is clear: less is more. A lone 3 is clean, confident, and personal. It is not the champion’s #1, but it feels like a striker’s shirt number — easy to spot, easy to own. For a driver who turned 33 into a modern icon, choosing 3 is a bold way to refresh the brand without breaking from his roots.

“Single digit, single focus. ‘3’ feels like Max resetting the board.”

F1 driver numbers: the rulebook and the rivalry

Since 2014, F1 drivers have picked a career number to carry across seasons. Verstappen chose 33 when he debuted in 2015 and kept it through his rise. After winning the world title, he took up #1 from 2022 onward, which the rules allow only for the reigning champion.

That’s where the 2026 twist comes in. With Lando Norris winning the 2025 drivers’ crown, the #1 plate is his to use next year. Verstappen, no longer champion, cannot keep it. So he’s gone with his long-time favorite: 3. The effect is instantly clear for fans — #1 for Norris, #3 for Verstappen — two clean, punchy numbers at the heart of the title picture.

“Norris with #1, Verstappen with #3 — the graphics package sells itself.”

Leaving 33 behind: a new chapter without losing the past

Verstappen’s 33 became part of his legend — the number he picked as a teen, the number that climbed the ladder, the number that fans wore on caps and flags. But the champion’s #1 was too good to pass up once he earned it, and he used it with pride from 2022.

Now, with the #1 passing to Norris for 2026, the move to 3 fits the moment. It has continuity with his preferences and the flexibility to stand alone. The shift also says something simple and strong: Verstappen is not hanging on to the old headline; he’s writing the next one.

Ricciardo’s old number returns: the ‘3’ story grows

The number 3 has its own history on the modern grid. It was last used by Daniel Ricciardo, who most recently raced in F1 at the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix. Fans will remember the big grin, the shoey celebrations, and the bright ‘3’ on his car. With Verstappen taking 3 in 2026, the number returns to front-line contention with a different energy and a new meaning.

Numbers in F1 don’t retire, but they do carry memory. Seeing 3 on Verstappen’s car will remind some of Ricciardo. It will also tell a fresh story: the chaser’s number against the champion’s #1 in a season many expect to be fast and fierce from the first lap.

“Is ‘3’ a tribute, a reset, or both? Either way, it pops on the timing tower.”

Marketing, mindset, and the meaning of a single digit

In the Netflix era, numbers are more than admin. They become part of a driver’s logo pack. For Verstappen, 3 is clean and easy to own on posters, broadcasts, and gear. It’s also a mindset move. A single digit can feel sharp and direct. It sends a quiet message that he is ready to chase again.

There is also clarity for the wider story. With Norris eligible to run #1 in 2026 and Verstappen set on #3, fans have a simple visual tag for the rivalry. You don’t need to read a press release. You just need to see the numbers line up on the grid.

What the confirmation tells us — and what comes next

MotorsportWeek formally confirmed the decision on December 18, 2025, noting that Verstappen’s new permanent number will take effect for 2026. RacingNews365 and PlanetF1 echoed the news and the key quotes from his Viaplay interview, where he explained why 3 has always been his favorite apart from 1.

Practically, the next step is simple: when the 2026 entry list and car launches arrive, the 3 will be on Verstappen’s nose, rear wing, and timing screens. That first sight will make the change feel real. Fans will see it, broadcasters will call it, and the new season story will lock in: #1 versus #3.

It’s a small change with a big echo. Verstappen didn’t just pick a number; he drew a new outline for the battle to come.

The bottom line

Max Verstappen will race with the permanent number 3 in 2026. He moves away from 33, which he chose in 2015, and steps off the champion’s #1 now held by Lando Norris for next year. As Verstappen put it, “We can now switch. It will be number ‘3’.” It’s tidy, it’s personal, and it sets a clear stage for 2026.

And for all the talk about digits, the meaning is simple enough for any fan: a new number, same target.